-
A painting of Fernando
Fernando was a aboriginal man born in Wolloomooloo in 1864. He famous for wearing an overcoat decorated with skeletons ever since he had witnessed the murder of an indigenous man by white people. He spent most of his life overseas, protesting and publicizing the injustices that his people were faced with. -
Day of Mourning
This day was a very important day as it was when Aboriginal men and White men came together to mourn over the losses that had occurred to the Aboriginals by the hand of the Whites. This day demonstrated the poor treatment of the Aborignes by the white people ever since 150 years prior. -
Human Rights For Australian Aborigines
This was a book written by a non-indigenous person Mary Bennett. It talked about human rights for the aboriginals and what is needed to be changed in orer for them to survive and to be valued as human beings. Later on, she met up with Anthony Martin Fernando and teamed up together to campaign for Aboriginal rights -
The Aborigines League -1940's
This banner was made by Bill Onus in the 1940’s. It was made during an Aboriginal protest. The league set up in the late 1940's for the people of Australia to communicate to the rights of indigenous people -
Wharfie's hook - 1950's
This Wharfies’ hook belonged to indigenous Activist Jon McGiness when worked as a wharfie and union man in Cairns, one of the few jobs at the time that had equal rights for Aboriginal and White workers. This hook symbolized his acceptance and equality. He was also an important people in the history of Australia as he protested around the country for the Aboriginals. -
Albert Namatjira -Born 1959
Albert Namatjira was born on the 295h of july 1892 and died on the 8th of AUgues 1959. He was a famous Indigenous Artist whos artwork was said to be the foundation of modern Indigenous artwork. He was seen as a person that bridged the gap between indigenous and white people as he was a aboriginal who held the same rights as the white people. He was one of the first Aborgines granted citizenship -
Dogtag and exemption papers- 1950's- 60's
This is an exemption paper or “Dog Tag” . Aboriginal people were required to apply for these in order to gain citizenship.To obtain one they had to abandon all association with Indigenous Communities.This highlighted the inequality and attempts at assimilation prevalent in the Australian Government. -
Sir Douglas Nicholls
Nicholls was a an aboriginal AFL player. He was notable to many as a footballer and used his popularity to turn attention to more crucial matter to him about the rights of Aboriginals. He was the first Aboriginal person to become knighted and later became the Governor of South Australia. He was very important to the history of the Aborigines because he was one of the first to play football and the first to become knighted. -
John Moriarty's Bath Robe
John Moriarty was part of the stolen generation as he was classified as a “half-caste”. He was removed from his “full-blood” mother at the age of five- part of the stolen generation. This robe was kept with him ever since he was given it soon after he was taken from his family -
Yirrrkala Bark Petition
This was a petition by the Aboriginals against mining that had been approved in their area. The aboriginals opposed strongly and for the first time presented their very own document to the government addressing their concern. -
Wave hill spur owned by Sabu Sing
This signified when the local aborignal cattlemen protested that they didn’t get enough pay, and in the end got what they wanted in a higher pay rise. This shows that the Aboriginal people began to grow with confidence and asked for something that when they had been first deprived of freedom would never have asked for. This was a very significant moment for aboriginal freedom. -
Ballot Box from Referendum
This ballot represents the referendum which was held to change the Australian constitution, and give basic rights for Aboriginals. 90% of votes were in support to change the referendum. This was a huge step forward as this inferred that many people were aware of this issue and indeed wanted a change. -
Faith Bandler's White Gloves (Referendum)
Fath Bandler was a well known Indigenous Activist, who wore these gloves whilst protesting for the recognition of Aboriginal Australians as citizens. She wore the white gloves when addressing the predominanatly white female audience during the referendum. -
Seats of Segregation- Used up to 70's
These seats are part of Bowraville theatre, NSW. There was a segregation to where the white population could sit and where the aborignal population could. The soft cusioned seats were only allowed for the white, showing discrimination towards the black -
Apology by Kevin Rudd
This photograph was taken when Prime Minister Gough poured a handful of Daguragu soil into Vincent Lingiari's hand, and thus handed back land rights to the Gurindji people. This came nine years after Lingiari and his colleagues walked off on the job to protest for equal pay and their land rights and saw the government finally recognizing the land rights of Aboriginals. This is known as the 'Hand Back'
